Dead Rising 3 First Look (Xbox One)

Dead Rising 3 is an Xbox One exclusive that will be available when the console launches in November. If you’re a fan of the Dead Rising series, the first next-generation installment takes everything you know and love about the franchise and gives it a next-gen boost of awesomeness. The game stars newcomer Nick Ramos. He’s a mechanic with a mysterious past from Los Perdidos, California.

The new game takes place 10 years after the events of Dead Rising 2. The choice of making Nick a mechanic is directly tied to the gameplay. Nick has the ability to combine items to make new weapons on the fly. This adds to the variety of the game and puts players to the test as they figure out the best combination to use in any given situation.

With the advancements in technology from Xbox 360 to Xbox One, you’ll find that Dead Rising 3 is multiple times the size of Dead Rising and Dead Rising 2 combined. The game is darker and grittier than previous titles, but still retains its trademark humor. There are also smart zombies that will react to noise if they hear Nick close by, and alert other zombies to join the attack. With the Kinect sensor active, sounds made in your living room will alert zombies as well. Luckily, you can turn off the sensor if you have a loud family. In addition, you can taunt boss characters with special phrases using the Kinect microphone that will weaken them or leave them open to attack.

The zombies also act differently at night, changing how you play. To spice things up even more, there are a wide variety of zombies based on your location. You’ll see high class zombies in wealthy areas (think Paris Hilton zombie look-a-like), football player zombies and other different types that add more variety to the game.

Driving is also a critical part of Dead Rising 3. There are large assortments of vehicles you can use and they react differently to the zombies. If you’re in a heavier vehicle you’ll bulldoze through a horde of zombies, but a lighter car might get stuck. You’ll need to learn the attributes of each vehicle on the fly.

The developers are targeting the Call of Duty crowd with the more accessible features in Dead Rising 3, but the old school feel is still intact. Classic Dead Rising fans missing the epic challenge of the previous titles in the series can look forward to a special Nightmare mode. In this mode, the game will have time limits and the zombies are more aggressive.

Last but not least, if you have a tablet there are multiple apps that will help while you play through the game. There are apps for exploration that make it easier to figure out where you are and want to go. In addition, some apps may give you the location of guns and other items. Having a tablet close-by will become a helpful tool as you play through the game.

Dead Rising 3 has something for everyone, with new features that should appeal to the more casual gamer, as well as Nightmare mode for the hardcore Dead Rising enthusiasts. As one of the more unique Xbox One launch titles, the game is shaping up to be a must-have when the new console arrives at retail in November.